(The Netherlands, 1962) is a Dutch writer, screenwriter and visual artist. She made her debut in 1995 with the collection of short stories Begeerte (Desire), which was nominated for the AKO Literature Prize, the Anton Wachter Prize and the ECI Prize. The title story was awarded the Rabobank Spring Prize for Literature. Her first novel Gemis (1997) was nominated for the Libris Literature Prize. Her most recent book, Vallen is als vliegen (Falling is Like Flying, 2019), was shortlisted for both the 2019 Bookspot Literature Prize and the 2020 Libris Literature Prize. The novel was named the best Dutch-language novel of 2019 by NRC Handelsblad and Humo. Uphoff was editor of the literary magazine De Revisor and board member and president of PEN Netherlands. As a screenwriter, she wrote the feature film screenplay Een Groot Geweld (Topkapi Films).

(Deventer, NL, 1961) is a writer, performer and theatre producer. Her 2004 breakthrough came with De laatste dichters (The Last Poets), nominated for the Libris Literature Prize. This novel about the lives of four black Americans who became famous as "The Last Poets" was adapted for theatre. We hadden liefde, we hadden wapens (We Had Love, We Had Weapons), Otten's swirling 2016 novel, is about the life of the black citizen's rights activist Robert F. Williams in America, and about taking a stand for the right to be who you are, regardless of the consequences. Een van ons (One of Us, 2020), her novel about lifelong prisoner Luc was performed as a theatre monologue. In her novel Als ik je eenmaal mijn verhaal heb verteld (Once I told you my story, 2024), Anir tries to build a new life ‘outside’ after 12 years of detention. The Blocknotes Foundation, co-founded by Otten in 2020, uses creative writing for empowerment and talent development of people in prison.

(Curaçao, 1960) is a writer, poet, playwright, actor and teacher. He made his debut in the 90s, and published, among others, books with poems and stories entitled Rueda di fe and Djis kant’i bo. After that he wrote various children’s books and gave presentations at book and theatre festivals in many different countries. He has succesfully presented his monologue Ninga bon on numerous occasions. Another one-man show by Colastica is Fo’i bo kuenta, a tragicomic mixture of stories, poems, sketches, music and songs. He has also participated in international literature festivals, like Een zee van verlangen (2001), Winternachten and Krusa Laman at The Hague, Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire. In 2006 he received the highest cultural award in Curaçao, namely the Premio Cola Debrot for his work in the field of dramaturgy and theatre. He wrote Vuurwerk in mijn hoofd (Fireworks in my Head), a youth novel in Dutch. He is currently — thanks to the support of the Dutch Foundation for Literature — a writer-in-residence in Amsterdam, where he is working on a novel for adults.

(Moscow, 1969) grew up in Amsterdam as the daughter of a Russian mother and a Cameroonian father. After her studies at art school she played in various theatrical productions and could be seen in tv series like Vrouwenvleugel, Oppassen, Mijn dochter en ik en Onderweg naar morgen. She also presented programmes such as Nieuw Amsterdam Praat, Beauty&Zo and Women Inc. She was a finalist in the Leids Cabaret Festival and toured the Netherlands with her own shows. Last year she was artistic leader and producer of the musical theatre show De koningin van Paramaribo, for which she wrote the lyrics. This year she can be seen in the theatre production Hormonologues. On Mondays and Fridays she hosts Dichtbij Nederland for NTR Radio 5. In addition she writes a monthly column together with Tanja Jess on modern parenthood in Kek Mama.

(Belgium, 1973) with his oeuvre wants to share his knowledge of France and the French language. Van Loo studied Romance philology and taught French. In 2006 Parijs retour. Literaire reisgids voor Frankrijk (Paris and Back. Literary Travelguide of France) appeared in which he followed the tracks of French writers. In 2008 it was followed by Als kok in Frankrijk (Like a Cook in France. Literary Recipes Culinary Stories), stories on gastronomy and the culinary charms of literary masterpieces. In 2010 he published O vermiljoenen spleet! Seks, erotiek en literatuur (Oh Vermillion Slit, a History of French Erotic Literature). In 2011 these three books were collected in Eten! Lezen! Vrijen! De Frankrijktrilogie (Eating! Reading! Making Love! The France Trilogy). In 2010 Elsschot, Antwerpen en Coraline, appeared, a quest for Willem Elsschot's traces in Antwerp. In 2011 it was followed by Chanson. Een gezongen geschiedenis van Frankrijk (Chanson. A Sung History of France, which later was finished off with a double-cd. In 2009-2011 he toured the theatres with performer Vitalski with Oot Kwizien Literair. His latest book on France is Bleu Blanc Rouge. Reis door Frankrijk in 80 vragen (Bleu Blanc Rouge, a Journey Through France in 80 Questions, 2012).